The government of Uganda has held an emergency meeting to find lasting solutions to the deepening conflict between communities living at the fringes of Queen Elizabeth national park and Uganda Wildlife Authority in Mitooma district.
Officials including the deputy speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, State Minister for Tourism, wildlife, and antiquities, Martin Bahinduka Mugarra, and UWA took to bumpy roads in Ruhinda North constituency where they assessed the damaged gardens and met community members in the three sub-counties of Kigyende, Rwoburunga and Kiyanga.
Speaking to the meeting after the deputy speaker and Minister of tourism toured the most affected areas, Ignitious Turyamuhaki, the Chairperson LC1 of Ruzonga village in Ndurumo parish, Rwoburunga sub-county said that the conflict between UWA and residents over elephants had tormented the locals and they had threatened to begin killing animals in revenge.
Addressing the meeting, Thomas Tayebwa who is also the Ruhinda North Member of Parliament noted that the compensation and revenue-sharing programs were marred with irregularities.
The UWA head of field operations, Charles Tumwesigye Baryamwisaki said that the government will with support from the World Bank erect over 100 bee hives along the park boundary so that bees can keep elephants at a bay.
John Makongo, the UWA Director Wildlife Conservation added that they are going to conduct boundary assessment and see which intervention can work better in Mitooma since previous ones like trenching have not helped.
